Design and Analysis of Novel Inductor-Less Common Source Wideband CMOS LNA for IOT Applications

Abstract

The advent of technology has led to an exponential increase in data processing rates, particularly in wireless electronics networks. Low power consumption, low noise figure, and gain are key parameters in this context, especially for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. A low-noise amplifier (LNA) represents an essential RF component incorporated in almost every wireless network. Traditional LNA designs often rely on inductors, which can increase the size and power consumption of the device. Additionally, previous inductor-less LNA designs have struggled to achieve low noise figures and high gain simultaneously. This work addresses these challenges by presenting a novel inductor-less wideband common-source LNA, which achieves high gain and relatively low noise figure (NF) across a frequency range of 0.5 GHz to 2.6 GHz, which is required for wireless, portable, and Bluetooth devices. The design also incorporates a Balun in the test circuit of the proposed LNA to enhance signal integrity. Performance analysis displayed a Noise figure (NF) of 1.75dB, and S22 is -17 dB, which shows that our output port is perfectly matched and delivers power efficiently to the load. In addition, the LNA demonstrates good input matching with S11 of -10 dB and low reverse gain with S12 of -20 dB, ensuring stable operation and minimal signal reflection. These metrics are excellent for inductorless LNA and a high gain (S21) of around 23 dB compared to previous work. The proposed LNA was implemented using UMC 180nm CMOS process technology and simulated through Cadence Virtuoso Spectre RF. This research contributes to advancing wireless electronics networks by addressing the critical requirements of low power consumption and high performance, providing valuable insights for future LNA optimizations in IoT and other wireless applications.